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How to interface a (snack/drink) vending machine interface to a PC? Answered

Hello experts and entrhusiasts,

I don't know much about the currently used food/drink vending machines (Bianchi, SAECO, etc). My question is the following: -is it possible to interface/intercommunicate them with a PC ? -what sort of connection do they have (RS232, CANbus,...) ? -do they use a special language/operating system for managing the vending stuff ? - are there available schematics, hardware/software descriptions about these machines ? What I want to do is to query them about of the actual state of products(number of selled/not selled)

Seconded. Most machines are programmed on site either with an internal keypad, or a removable keypad that programs the internal cpu.

THAT SAID -- Asia has some pretty crazy in-depth machines with graphics, etc -- and they probably have full 'modern' computers in them. Many even are internet enabled so your smart phone can purchase something cash-less. Again, each is different.